Totalizer switch



Feb. 11, 1958 A. R. GROSS 2,823,273

TOTALIZER SWITCH Filed July 14, 1954 IN VENT 0R.

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TOTALIZER SWITCH Arthur R. Gross, St. Paul, Minn. Application July 14, 1954, Serial No. 443,192

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-16) My invention relates to improvements in a longitudinally reciprocating switch. In particular, it relates to a step-by-step selector switch having longitudinally reciprocating movable contacts for progressively closing normally open pairs of fixed contacts.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved switch having longitudinally reciprocating movable contacts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved switch having longitudinally reciprocating movable contacts for progressively closing normally open pairs of fixed contacts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved switch having longitudinally reciprocating movable contacts for progressively closing normally open pairs of circumferentially spaced segmental fixed contacts, which switch comprises movable contacts circumferentially disposed about the axis of a reciprocating plunger in angular relation to the angular length of the fixed contacts so as to prevent the rotary position of said plunger from adversely affecting operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved selector switch variable as to the number of circuit contacts controlled and wherein the number of circuit contacts does not change the relative working load of the switch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a selector switch comprising a composite main body having a cylindrical bore and a conductor head mounted for straight line longitudinal movement in the cylindrical bore, said main body being fabricated of a stack of identical discs all having aligned central bores defining sections of the cylindrical bore of the main body, each disc comprises a body of insulating material and a pair of spaced electrically-conductive contacts having segmental inner surfaces defining circumferentially spaced segments of its inner bore; the number of discs for all practical purposes is unlimited and may provide an unlimited succession of normally open fixed contacts to be progressively closed by' the conductor head as it is moved longitudinally through the cylinder bore of the composite main body.

The particular embodiment of my invention hereinafter disclosed shows its use in a control mechanism known commercially as a totalizer for which use'it is particularly' adapted, although it may clearly be used for many other purposes. Referring to my now pending application, S. N. 354,933, for a Control Mechanism, the advantages of my switch herein disclosed and claimed over the switch therein disclosed are numerous. It is clear that my novel switch provides for easier and simpler price selection and further provides for a range of progressive selection which would be impossible with theswitches particularly shown in Figs. 4 and 8 of the aforementioned pending application.

. The above objects and advantages and numerous other important features, objectives, and advantages of the instant invention will be disclosed in the following specification and claims, reference being had to the accompanyingurawin s wherein:

2,823,273 Ce Patented Feb. 1 1, 1 958 having a smooth uninterrupted cylindrical bore 11. Main body 10 is fabricated of a plurality of discs 12 having aligned central bores 13. Each bore 13 defines a section of the cylindrical bore 11. Each disc 12 comprises a body of insulating material 14 and a pair of fixed electrically conductive contacts 15 and 16. The fixed contacts 15 and 16 have segmental inner working surfaces 17 and 18, respectively, which define circumferentially spaced portions of the central bore 13. Extending laterally outwardly from each contact 15 and 16 are terminals 19 and 20 respectively, which extend beyond the lateral limits of the disc 12 in diametrically opposed relationship. The insulating material 14 defines segments 21 of the cylindrical bore 13 between fixed contacts 15 and 16 of the same disc 12; and as the thickness of each disc 12 is greater than the thickness of the contacts 15 and 16, the insulating material 14 extends between the contacts 15 and 16 of adjacent discs and defines segments 22 of the cylindrical bore 13 between contacts 15 and 16 of adjacent discs. The body of conductive material 14 may be formed separately or preferably is molded or cast integrally with the contacts 15 and 16 to form the disc 12.

Each of the discs 12 is provided with six apertures 23, disposed with three of them circumferentially spaced on each side of the disc 12 in diametrically opposed relationship. The discs 12 are stacked with the terminals 19 and 20 of adjacent discs circumferentially disposed and with the terminals of discs separated by two intervening discs longitudinally aligned, as shown in Fig. 3. Threadedbolts 24 extend through two of the diametrically opposed apertures 2.3; the specific apertures used being determined by the circumferential disposition of the terminals 19 and 20. Bolts 24 pass through a top member 25 and are threaded into a bottom member 26, both of which have central bores aligned with the bores 13 of the discs 12. This maintains the individual discs 12 into the composite main body 10; and it is clear, that discs may be added or removed from the composite body 10 by merely first removing and then replacing the bolts 24. After fabrication of the composite body 10, the individual bores 13 are rebored to form the smooth uninterrupted bore 11 of the composite body 10.

A plunger 27 is mounted for reciprocating movements longitudinally of the axis of the cylindrical bore 11 and it I has a tapered head portion 28 disposed in coaxial relationship with the cylindrical bore 11. A threaded bolt 29 mounts a conductor head 30 on the tapered end of the plunger portion 28 for common reciprocating movement therewith in the bore 11. Conductor head 30 is formed of electrically conductive material and is comprised of three radially extending circumferentially spaced arms 31.

Each of the arms 31 has a radially extending aperture 32 adapted to contain a spring 33 and ball 34. Balls 34 complise the movable contacts of my novel switch and are spring biased outwardly into engagement with the Wall contacts 34 and the angular length of the fixed contacts 15 and 16 so that there is always at least one movable contact 34-in en agement-with the segmental surface"17 and-oneamovable contact 34 in engagementwith the seg mental surface 18 when the conductor head is positioned therebetween no matter what the rotary position of plunge'r' 'head- 28'. Inthe'embodiment shown ini' the drawings herein, fixed contacts"15 and16 are-"of. equal angular length and are diametrically: opposed; however, this need not be the case so long asthemaximum angular lengthof th'e space between the adjacent movable contacts 34 is in all instances less than the angular length of 'each of the-fixed-contacts.

The means for mountingplunger 27 and the means for providing-reciprocating movement thereof in the particular embodiment herein disclosed is similar to the structure of mynow pending application, S; N. 354,933, for a control mechanism adapted for use with coincontrolledvending machines known as a totalizer; and-ref erence is made to the aforesaid pending application for amo're complete disclosure of these means. However, in general, mounting means for plunger 27 consist of a guide tube 35 within which the'plunger 27 is mounted for free axial movement. Guide tube 35 is secured to a'bracket-like supporting frame comprising a generally vertical back flange 36 and inturned generally disposed lowerand upper flanges 37 and 38, respectively, and an'intermediate flange 39. Guide tube 35 has an upper end 40 which snugly fits'into the central bore of bottom member 26'of the'main body 10. Plunger 27 is'shown as a cylindrical ratchet bar having circumferentially extended, symmetricallylongitudinally spaced, parallel teeth 41; Plunger 27 is'yieldingly biased in its normal retracted position by gravity and is advanced in its extended position by a plurality of actuatingpawls 42, 42a and 42b, and a corresponding plurality of electromagnetic actuators43, 43a and 43b. Electromagnetic actuators 43, 43a and 4311 are solenoids; each having an armature-acting pushrod'44 disposed parallel to the toothed portion of plunger 27; A more specific disclosure of the structure and operation of electromagnetic actuators 43, 43:1 and 43b is disclosed in my aforementioned pending application, S. N. 354,933; however, energization of the respective solenoids will project the armature-acting push rods 44'upwardly. v

Pawls 42, 42a and 4212 work through slots 45, 45a and 45b 'in'the cincular wall of the guide tube 35 and are each pivotally mounted at 46 to the upper end of the armature-actingpush rods 44 of the respective electromagnetic actuators 43, 43a and 43b for limited swinging movements to and from an operative ratchet tooth-engaging position. As will be seen particularly by reference to Fig. 2, the pawls are pivoted off-center so as to be overbalanced-and hence gravity-urged toward their operative generally horizontal positions. The lower ends of the pawl-receiving slots 45, 45a and 45b are located in a common horizontal plane and are engaged by the respective pawls associated therewith during final retracting movements of-the pawls 42', 42a and 42b and cause by cam action,-pivotal retracting movements of the pawls from their operative'tooth-engaging positions to their inoperative retracted positions, shown in Fig. 2. The upper ends of the slots 45, 45a and45b serve as upper stop portions for the pawls42, 42a'and 4212, respectively, and establish the limit of the operative ratchet extending movements of the-pawls. These upper stop portions, indicated by the numeral 47, determine the extended movement of the plunger 27 responsive to a single energization of the actuators 43, 43a and 43b by intercepting and arresting the extending movement ofthe pawls 42, 42:: or 42b. The length of travel of plunger 27 responsive to a single energizationof actuators 43, 43a or 43b, is determined by the length of the cooperating slots 45, 45a and 45b; and it is possible to vary this length of movement by varying the' lenfgth' of the slots 45, 45a and 45b.

I-n the arrangement'shown, the teeth 41 each represent one increment' of movement; and this increment of movementis'equalto the distance betweenadjacent'pairs of fixed contacts 15.and 16- Therefore, one increment of movement of the plunger 27 will transfer the movable contacts 34 from engagement with the fixed contacts 15 and 16 of one disc 12 to the fixed contacts 15 and 16 of an adjacent disc 12. As illustrated, slot 45 is of such a length to allow only one increment of movement of the plunger 27 for each energization of its solenoid 43; the slot 45a is of such a length as to allow two increments of movement for each-energization of its solenoid 43a; and the slot 45b is-of such a'length as to allow five increments of movement for each energization of its solenoid 43b.

In order to retain the extended movement of plunger 27 against accidental or uncalled for return movements to its normal retracted position, a suitable releasing and holding means may be provided, not shown in the drawings; but which may be similar to the releasing and holding means illustrated in my aforementioned: pending application,- S.-N; 354,933; 7

For illustration,"myinvention has been disclosed for use-in a totalizer control mechanism, which-controlmech anism renders a vending machine operatively responsive to insertion into the machine of a coin or combination of coins equalto the purchase price of the selected mer chandise. The operation of such a control mechanismis particularlydisclosed in my aforementionedpending-application, S. N. 354,933," referring particularly'toth'ewin ingdiagram of Fig. 5 therein.

Briefly, however, each individual pair of fixedcontacts 15 and 16 represents a particular purchase price for. the

merchandise; It will beassumed that'the' increment of movement between adjacent pairs of fixed contacts" repre sents-anickel or Sgt-purchase value: Assuming. thatthe' purchase price of the merchandise vended is 25, th'el fifthcontacts-15 and 16 from'theretracted positionof' conductor head 30, designated particularly by them meral 48, would be used in the operating circuit-of the vending machine. Electromagnetic actuator43 will be arranged to be energized by circuit, not shown, operated bynickels; electromagnetic actuator 43a may be arranged to be operatively energized'by dimesjand electromagnetic actuator 43b may be'a'rranged to be operatively energized by quarters. Thus, the merchandise may be obtained by insertion of' one quarter, .five nickels, two dimes and .a nickel, for example. Means may be provided for a return to the purchaser of any over-payment, should the purchaser insert too much-money.

It would be practical to-have fixed contacts 15 -of each disc 12 fixedly connected to acornmon.groundconnection; and therefore; a price selection might be made-by merely changing onelead from the fixed contact 16- ofv said main body comprising a stack ofdiscs'havingaligned central boresdefining sections 'of the' first-said bore, each disc comprising a body of insulating material and a pair of spaced'fixed electrically conductive contacts having' segmental inner contact surfaces defining circumf-erentially-spaced portions of its central bore, the thickness of each disc being greater than the thickness of the contact surfaces of the fixed contacts associated there withand said insulating material defining segments of the cylindrical bore betweenfixed contacts of the sa'm'e disc and between-fixedfcontactsof an adjacent distgand a conductor head mounted for longitudinal reciproca,

tion in the cylindrical bore and engaging the wall of the bore to progressively span and close the cooperating fixed contacts of each disc when moved longitudinally through the bore.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a terminal connected to each contact and extending laterally outwardly from the outer surface at opposite sides of the disc with which each contact is associated.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said discs are positioned with the terminals of adjacent discs being circumferentially disposed and with the terminals of discs separated by at least two intervening discs being longitudinally aligned.

4. In a switch of the class described, a composite main body having a smooth uninterrupted cylindrical bore, said main body comprising a stack of discs having aligned central bores defining sections of the first said bore, each disc comprising a body of insulating material and a pair of spaced fixed electrically conductive contacts having segmental inner contact surfaces defining circumferentially spaced portions of its central bore, the thickness of each disc being greater than the thickness of the contact surfaces of the fixed contacts associated therewith and said insulating material defining segments of the cylindrical bore between fixed contacts of the same disc and between fixed contacts of an adjacent disc, a plunger mounted for reciprocating movements longitudinally of the axis of said cylindrical bore and having a portion 6 disposed coaxial of said cylindrical bore, three conductively-connected movable contacts mounted on said portion of the plunger and circumferentially spaced about the axis thereof, the radii of the movable contacts being such that they will slidably engage the segmental surfaces of the fixed contacts when moved axially therebetween, the maximum angular length of the space between adjacent movable contacts being less than the angular length of each one of the fixed contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 285,778 Adams Oct. 2, 1883 376,072 Cole Jan. 10, 1888 632,932 Williamson Sept. 12, 1899 789,822 Swarts May 16, 1905 1,405,260 Beavers Jan. 31, 1922 1,538,038 Herbes May 19, 1925 1,617,862 Pistor Feb. 15, 1927 2,201,881 Bryant et al May 21, 1940 2,432,581 Miller Dec. 16, 1947 2,455,137 Pennington Nov. 30, 1948 2,520,681 Hanson Aug. 29, 1950 2,521,561 Batcheller Sept. 5, 1950 2,633,485 Patnode Mar. 31, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 206,841 Great Britain May 1, 1924 401,291 Germany Aug. 30, 1924 

